The Tudor Minute

Today in 1536 Archbishop Cranmer visited Anne in her cell in the Tower. Some have theorized that he offered Anne some kind of deal - she could confess to something that would have been an impediment in her marriage, and in return she might go to a nunnery.

Today in 1536 Anne Boleyn was tried in front of nearly 2000 spectators in the King’s Hall in the Tower of London. The Queen defended herself honorably, and admitted only to giving money to Francis Weston. Anne was pronounced guilty, of course - there was never any doubt that she would be found guilty.

Today in 1571 Scotland saw the Creeping Parliament. This was part of the civil war that consumed Scotland after Mary Queen of Scots abdicated, and her son was still very young.

Today in 1559 Elizabeth I signed the Act of Uniformity. This was part of the Elizabethan religious settlement and compromise which left no one fully happy - a sign of a good compromise if there ever was one.

Today in 1603 James I arrived in London, nine days after the funeral of Elizabeth I. From 1601 onwards, as it became clear that James was going to be Elizabeth’s successor, many of her court kept up a secret correspondence with James. As the Queen was dying in 1603, her chief minister, Robert Cecil, sent James a draft proclamation of his accession in early March. Elizabeth died on 24 March, and James was proclaimed king in London later on that day.

Today we mark the death of Jean Luis Vives, a Spanish scholar from Valencia, and advisor to Catherine of Aragon. He was also very much involved in planning the education of Princess Mary. His beliefs on the soul, insight into early medical practice, and perspective on emotions, memory and learning earned him the title of the "father" of modern psychology.

Today in 1608 Bess of Hardwick was laid to rest. She is one of the most inspirational Tudor women to me - she was born into minor gentry, and rose to become the second wealthiest woman in England, second only to the Queen. She also was highly involved in the politics of the time - her final husband was the jailer of Mary Queen of Scots, which put enormous strain on their marriage. She also worked to set up a dynasty through her granddaughter Arbella Stuart, who had a very good claim to the English throne upon Elizabeth’s death.

Today in 1517 we saw the Evil May Day Riots. Two weeks previously a Dr Bell preached a sermon against immigrants who were coming to England to take the jobs of native born Englishmen, and encouraged people to attack foreigners.

Today in 1595 Robert Southwell was executed. He was a Jesuit priest who had been arrested three years earlier, had been tortured, and finally executed today. Though his family had always had Catholic leanings, they profited from the Suppression of the Monasteries

Today in 1547 Henry VIII’s son Edward was crowned Edward VI. He was only nine years old.